WEGO police look to the future

WESTTOWN — As the dust settled this week on a new labor agreement that secured the future of the Westtown-East Goshen Regional Police Department, the operation’s stakeholders are looking to turn a new page and focus on the future.

A six-year labor contract was approved this week that will guarantee the operation of the only regional police department in Chester County through the end of 2018. The deal was complemented by a police services agreement that retains Thornbury as a client of the Westtown-East Goshen Police Commission, the department’s governing body.

Recent promotions have allowed the department to institute a new command structure and reorganize in a way that will improve communication and effectiveness, department officials said.

William Cahill and James DiCave were both promoted to lieutenant last month at Interim Chief Eugene Dooley’s recommendation. Glen Bretz was also promoted to the rank of sergeant and will now oversee the department’s detective division. They have served more than 20 years each in the department.

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Cahill said he will oversee the department’s criminal investigations, traffic enforcement division, and SWAT operations. DiCave will supervise the patrol division, officer training, and special projects.

Both Cahill and DiCave will remain heavily involved in the department’s day to day operations, despite their new administrative roles. Cahill said they are currently revamping the department’s scheduling system in an effort to reduce overtime costs and are working to improve the relationships with area schools.

“We want them (the schools) to know who we are,” Cahill said, adding that it is important for the department to continue its focus on community policing policies that were put in place by former chief John Dummond, who retired in late July. “It’s going to be a better line of communication between us and the schools.”

Cahill also praised the department’s officers for maintaining their commitment to area residents during labor negotiations that at times threatened their jobs.

“Even through all the turmoil of the past few months, the officers never lost focus and never stopped doing their job,” Cahill said. “Our guys do such a great job and often are not recognized, and that is going to change.”

Representatives for the officers said they are looking forward to rebuilding the department from within and are hoping for signs that the townships are willing to invest in the future. Those investments would include additional promotions and new hires.

“These guys need to see that this department is going in the right direction,” said Anthony Ruggieri, president of the Westtown-East Goshen Police Association.

Ruggieri said moves like hiring new officers and recognizing current officers when they go above and beyond would go a long way to improve morale in the department, which he and other officers said has been low for years.

Ruggieri has said that the police association was not happy with the deal that was signed this week, but agreed to contract’s terms to guarantee the future of the department and the jobs of its officers.

Senya Isayeff, chairman of the East Goshen Board of Supervisors, said the contract that was signed is fair and equitable to all parties. He expressed optimism about the department’s future and hope that the regional department could expand its area of operation.

“We’re excited about the outcome of these discussions and the bright future of WEGO and what we hope will be the biggest and best regional police department in Pennsylvania,” Isayeff said. All parties appear to agree that expanding the department’s regionalization is the ultimate goal, specifically by forming new partnerships with other municipalities.

“There is no reason why this department why this department can’t grow in size and in area of coverage,” Cahill said.

Carmen Battavio, an East Goshen supervisor and chairman of the police commission, also supported the idea of expanding regional operations but also stressed that a top priority moving forward is getting Thornbury officials more involved in the police commission.

“It’s critical to include Thornbury and make them feel like equal partners,” he said.

Battavio also said raising officer morale and overcoming any leftover feelings from tenuous contract negotiations was a top priority moving forward.

“The most important thing is to mend all the fences and any hard feelings from the last few months with the association. Let’s get everybody back together and support the police department,” Battavio said. “We have to rally around the troops and show them our support.

Battavio said the police commission will now focus on next year’s budget, with $741,778 in revenue from the newly extended agreement with Thornbury, and the search for the department’s next permanent chief.

Battavio said the commission would discuss whether the search would be conducted with the aid of a formal search committee, as was done earlier this year. That search was suspended as uncertainty over then-expiring contracts with Thornbury and the police association threatened the future of the department.

The police commission will begin to hold private discussions about the search in coming weeks and could conclude early next year, Battavio said.

Battavio also acknowledged that the commission could look for a candidate internally.

“I don’t believe any doors are being closed as far as a chief search,” he said.